Unit BIOLOGY-PHYSIC AND STATISTICS

BIOCHEMISTRY

Code	GP003916
CFU	1
Teacher	Lara Macchioni
Teachers	Lara Macchioni
Hours	12 ore - Lara Macchioni
Learning activities	Base
Area	Scienze biomediche
Academic discipline	BIO/10
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	Chemical bonds. Solutions. Functional groups of organic molecules. Molecules of biological interest. Metabolic pathways. Krebs cycle. Respiratory chain. Oxidative phosphorylation. Metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and aminoacids: the hormonal control of metabolism
Reference texts	Biochimica e Biologia per le Professioni Sanitarie - Rita Roberti, Giovanni Alunni Bistocchi, Cinzia Antognelli e Vincenzo Nicola Talesa - Mcgraw-hill Editor
Educational objectives	The main aim of this course is to provide students with the knowledge of basic properties of biological systems and of the mechanisms controlling cellular homeostasis. The main competence will be: -to evaluate the nature and properties of reagents and solutions usually employed in professional practice; - to understand the general metabolic behavior in physiopathological conditions.
Prerequisites	For an effective understanding of the topics of this integrated course, composed of Biochemistry, Applied biology, Physics and Medical Statistics, the basic knowledge at high school level of Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Statistics is required. In particular, general knowledge of cell structure, atomic structure, simple inorganic and organic molecules structure, and basic concepts of classical physics and statistics, are mandatory.
Teaching methods	The course is organized in lectures on all the subjects. Students are stimulated to interact with the teacher during the lectures.
Other information	See web site http://www.med.unipg.it/logopedia/
Learning verification modality	The exam consists of a written test and/or an oral examination relative to the four modules of the integrated course. The written test, comprising basic questions covering all the topics, aims to assess the minimum basic preparation to face the oral examination. The oral exam aims to assess the level of knowledge of the subjects of the integrated course, and the ability to make connections and to integrate knowledge. The oral exam will also test the student communication skills. The final evaluation takes into account mainly the oral exam.
Extended program	PRINCIPLES OF CHEMISTRY. Hints on tomic structure and periodic table of the elements. The chemical bond: omopolar and eteropolar covalent bond, donor-acceptor bond, electrostatic bonds, hydrogen bond. Solutions: concentration units. Osmotic pressure and osmolarity. Physiologic solution. Strong and weak electrolytes, the chemical equilibrium. Acids and bases. The ionic product of water, pH. pH of acid, base, and salt solutions; buffer solutions. Oxidation state of carbon in the organic compounds. ELEMENTS OF GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY. Carbohydrates. Structure and properties of monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. The glycosidic bond. Carbohydrates of physiologic significance: glucose, fructose, ribose, saccharose, lactose, starch, cellulose, glycogen. Lipids. Structure and properties of fatty acids, acylglycerols, phospholipids, glycolipids, and cholesterol. Aminoacids. Proteins: structural organization, classification, functions. Denaturation of proteins. Structure and functions of hemoglobin and myoglobin. Oxygen transport. ELEMENTS OF DYNAMIC BIOCHEMISTRY. Overview of metabolic pathways: anabolism, catabolism, linear and cyclic pathways. ATP: structure and role in the metabolism. The Krebs cycle. The respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation. The metabolism of carbohydrates. Digestion and absorption of sugars. Glycolysis and metabolism of glycogen. The hormonal control of blood glucose (insulin and glucagon). The metabolism of fats. Digestion, absorption, and storage of dietary lipids. Lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation. Biosynthesis of fatty acids and triacylglycerols. Hormonal control of lipolysis and lipogenesis (insulin and glucagon). The ketone bodies. The metabolism of proteins and aminoacids. Protein digestion and aminoacid absorption. Transamination and deamination reactions. Ureogenesis. The metabolic fate of aminoacid carbon skeleton.

APPLIED BIOLOGY

Code	GP003915
CFU	2
Teacher	Cinzia Antognelli
Teachers	Cinzia Antognelli
Hours	24 ore - Cinzia Antognelli
Learning activities	Base
Area	Scienze biomediche
Academic discipline	BIO/13
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Flow of genetic information within a biological system and its regulation. Cell cycle and its control. Mutations: types and causes. Reproduction of multicellular living organisms: meiosis and gametogenesis.
Reference texts	R. Roberti, G. Alunni Bistocchi, C: Antognelli, VN Talesa. - Biochimica e Biologia per le professioni sanitarie McGrawHill  P. Bonaldo, S. Suga, R. Pierantoni, P. Riva, M.G Romanelli- Biology and Genetics – EdiSES
Educational objectives	The aim of the course is the integrated study of the cell and living organisms, with emphasis on the mechanisms involved in: organelles biogenesis and cellular structures, cell-cell interactions, cell-extracellular matrix interactions, DNA duplication, transmission of the genetic information, gene expression, cell proliferation. The ability to learn, relate and integrate one concept to another will be considered fundamental issues in order to facilitate the understanding of the disciplines provided in the subsequent years of the Degree Course.
Prerequisites	Basics of chemistry.
Teaching methods	Face-to-Face
Learning verification modality	Written and oral exams.
Extended program	The characteristics of living organisms. Biological macromolecules: proteins, lipids and glucides (general characteristics). Models of cellular organization: prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Viruses: general characteristics. Animal eukaryotic cell. Plasma membrane: structure and functions. The main mechanisms of membrane transport and cellular communication; cytoplasm; ribosomes; rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum; Golgi apparatus; lysosomes; peroxisomes; mitochondria and the energy problem; cytoskeleton (general characteristics), nucleus and nucleolus. DNA and RNA: structure and function. Organization of chromatin, chromosomes. The eukaryotic gene. Gene expression: transcription, maturation of primary transcripts, genetic code, translation. Regulation of gene expression: general characteristics. Cell cycle: interphase, DNA replication, mitosis. Cell cycle control: check-point and CdK-cyclines. Proto-oncogenes, oncogenes and tumor suppressor. Gene mutations (point mutations, missense, nonsense, neutral mutations), genomic mutations (aneuploidy and polyploidy mutations) and chromosomal mutations (deletion, duplication, inversion, translocation). Human normal and pathological karyotype. Heterochromatinization of the X chromosome. Reproduction of multicellular organisms; meiosis and its biological meaning, gametogenesis (spermatogenesis and oogenesis).

APPLIED PHYSICS

Code	GP003918
CFU	2
Teacher	Claudio Zucchetti
Teachers	Claudio Zucchetti
Hours	20 ore - Claudio Zucchetti
Learning activities	Base
Area	Scienze propedeutiche
Academic discipline	FIS/07
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)

MEDICAL STATISTICS

Code	GP003917
CFU	2
Teacher	Fabrizio Stracci
Teachers	Fabrizio Stracci
Hours	20 ore - Fabrizio Stracci
Learning activities	Base
Area	Scienze propedeutiche
Academic discipline	MED/01
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	Study design in medical research Definitions and role of Statistics in medical research Descriptive statistics Statistical inference Correlation and regression
Reference texts	Biostatistica Pagano M Gavreau K Gnocchi ed. Napoli 2003 Statistica per Discipline Biomediche Glanz S . McGrawHill Milano 2007
Educational objectives	Students will be able to use basic statistical tools and concepts They will appreciate the role of statistics in medical research Students will be able to read critically and understand statistical methods used in research articles
Prerequisites	None
Teaching methods	Theoretical lessons and practical training
Learning verification modality	The examination is based on a written test. An oral examination may be requested by students (optional). Duration: 1h. The written test requires the solution of three exercises and multiple response test. The exercises are designed to assess knowledge of descriptive statistics, statistical testing, and regression. Score (range 8-12) is indicated for each exercise and the sum of scores is 30 points. It is possible to Oral examination is intended to assess the general understanding of statistical methods. Duration about 20 minuts. The possibility to take the oral exam is limited to students which have passed the written test
Extended program	1. Introduction 1.1 Statistics definitions and scope 1.2 Statistical methods in medical research 2. Data 2.1 Types of variables 2.2 Tabulation and processing of data 2.3 Diagrams 2.4 Descriptive statistics 2.5 Measures of central tendency 2.6 Measures of variability 3. Probability 3.1 Frequentist definition of probability 3.2 Probability distributions 3.3 The normal or Gaussian distribution 3.4 Probability distributions and applications 4. Populations and samples 4.1 Parameters and their estimation 4.2 Sampling 5. Statistical inference 5.1 Point and interval estimation 5.2 Confidence interval for the sample mean 5.3 Significance testing 5.4 Parametric Hypothesis Tests: Student’s t test and Analysis of Variance 5.5 Confidence interval for the difference between two means 5.6 Non-Parametric Hypothesis Tests: chi-squared test 6. Regression and correlation 6.1 Regression models 6.2 Linear regression 6.2.1 Linear regression equation: parameters estimation using the ordinary least squares method 6.2.2 Tests of significance in regression 6.2.3 Confidence interval for the linear regression coefficient b 6.3 Correlation 6.4 Critical reading of results from multivariable regression models 7 Evaluation of diagnostic tests